April 2012 Archives

Good to see Gavin Floyd pitch so well today. Perfect into the 5th, a no-hitter into the 6th. Adam Dunn with another homer. White Sox salvage last game of the 4-gamer with a 4-1 victory. Woulda been nice to use two of those runs last night, to help Jake Peavy avoid that 1-0 loss.

But I'm not complaining. It's early in the season, the White Sox are 11-11 and one game outta first place, and they have a day off Monday. Take a break, boys. Hit some golf courses.

I hate, hate, HATE it when a guy is sailing along, has to leave the game late, and then watches the other team take the lead. Such was the fate for Gavin Floyd, who had to leave after 8.1 innings of masterful pitching, only to watch the A's rally for two runs in the 8th inning.

That's baseball, as Harry Caray used to say. It happens. But that doesn't mean we have to like it. Matt Thornton gave up a run-scoring double to Sox killer Kurt Suzuki for the first run. A's managed to sneak another across the plate. So we go to the 9th inning. How about a late magic, boys?

---

Oh, well, it was a good game. Fukudome pinch-hit with two out in the 9th and singled. Wound up uncontested, stole 2nd and 3rd, Adam Dunn pinch-hit and struck out, but it was a solid at-bat.

Not happy the Sox lost, 2-0, but very pleased with Floyd's impressive outing. He's 1-3 and should be 2-2 had tonight gone the South Side way. Let's hope the boys win tomorrow and take the series.

White Sox, Yankees and Toronto have all won four games in a row. They are the hottest teams in MLB right now.

Meanwhile, Kansas City has lost 11 straight and is now 3-13. Yes, that would be the same Royals that Sports Illustrated tabbed for second place this season. The magazine also picked the Sox to finish in the cellar. Yes, it's early, but I'll take a 10-6 record over 3-13.

The White Sox are 3-3 vs. what I consider playoff-caliber teams in Detroit and Texas. South Siders are a collective 7-3 vs. Cleveland, Seattle, Baltimore and Oakland. My dad always said that you've gotta beat the teams you're supposed to beat and play even with the really good teams. Sounds like the Sox are following that script early in the 2012 campaign.

Sure, the hours are long. Yes, most people don't want to talk when I call. The pay? Don't get me started, don't even get me started.

It's the newsroom banter that gets me through the long days and nights. Probably the funniest place to work next to a cop shop and the county morgue. Seriously, the morgue workers can do standup at any comedy club. "This Einstein drove into a tree; this one decided to take a bath with a toaster..." But I digress.

Here's this morning's exchange in the newsroom.

Photo editor Larry Ruehl and I were lamenting the Blackhawks' early demise. I said they can start making tee times at local golf courses. Larry agreed that it was unfortunate they have been eliminated, and mentioned how we spend our new free time counting Cubs losses instead.

"Hey!" said columnist Donna Vickroy, one of the biggest Cub fans I've ever met this side of sports writer Tony Baranek.

"That's okay," Sox fan Larry said. "You may see a few perfect games up there this year ... against them."

A brilliant 4-0 shutout of Oakland Monday night. Turned the game on late, after watching the Blackhawks' season end, and was very pleased. Dunn and Konerko homered in the game. Peavy went the distance. And the White Sox find themselves tied for first place with Detroit. Both teams are 10-6.

What do you think about Jake Peavy and the team's future this season? Do you think a healthy Peavy can anchor this staff, which has been very good, and lead them into the playoffs? Love to hear from ya.

What are your thoughts on Phillip Humber's perfect game? Did you get so fired up you forgot where you were? Ed Farmer did, and said the game was at "US Cellular Field." But that's okay. We'll cut Farmio some slack. After all, it was just the second perfect game he's called in his career.

21st perfecto all time. 3rd by a White Sox pitcher. 27 up, 27 down. Crazy play to end the game. Entertaining? Absolutely.

Chris Sale looked fantastic tonight in Seattle. The kid can bring it. He got stronger as the game went on. 11 strikeouts, 3 walks, 7 hits, 3 earned runs in 6 and 1/3rd innings of work. In the 6th inning, one pitch was clocked at 93 mph for Sale (2-1). You gotta like that.

Adam Dunn with 2 HR and 5 RBI appears to be shaking off the nightmare better known as 2011. And, Gordon Beckham started the 4-run 2nd with a double to right center. Morel promptly followed that with a single to drive him in. Boy, if those two guys start hitting, it could be real fun.

Solid play all-around by the entire team. Hawk and Stone said it best: It's good to start a big road trip with a win. Lots to do in Seattle, boys. Go out and have some fun. You deserve it after tonight's game.

"You coulda hung all the drawers in Cook County on that one" - after Adam Dunn ripped a line-drive homer to deep right to give the Sox a 7-3 lead in the 8th inning.

Hawk's in mid-season form, ladies and gents. And, Adam Dunn is starting to look like 2011 was an exception to the rule. He has two homers and five RBI in this game. That includes a 1-run double to the left-field corner in the 1st and a 3-run homer in the 2nd.

Those are words you don't see often in the same setence. But Baltimore is in first place and is beating the Sox right now, going for 3-of-4 in the series. Orioles have a 5-2 lead over Gavin Floyd and friends. A few hours ago, I was thinking the Sox would split the series. Now? Not so sure.

I've seen plenty of awful White Sox games since I began watching them in 1968, but few compare with that fiasco we witnessed Monday night. Relievers could not pitch. Fielders could not catch. Players had brain cramps. The Orioles, whom I apologize to for ripping a bit early Monday, belted two homers off Santiago to tie the game in the 9th and then poured on six more runs in the 10th, including a grand slam.

It was like watching a train wreck. I could not turn off the TV. "It has to get better," I told myself. Nope, it got worse. Ugly, ugly, ugly loss.

Seriously, the Orioles do have some good players and you can't take any team lightly. But I am looking forward to seeing Phil Humber's first start of the season tonight. It's windy. Will that play a role in the game? Steve Stone said on WSCR this morning that Humber, whose first start was rained out in Cleveland, has been working a lot in the bullpen so he should be sharp tonight.

What are your thoughts on the season so far? On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being crazy happy, I'm about a 7. I'm feeling good with five wins in eight games, but I also know there are 154 games to go. A long and winding road, if you will. But it's always good to hit the ground running, as the Sox have.

How is that possible? I'm happy with the win, but 15 strikeouts is worrisome. They fanned 13 times last Friday at Texas. And what's with Gordon Beckham? He looks awful at the plate. Like he has no confidence. Should the Sox send him down to Triple A to find his swing? Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.

A White Sox team that used a take-no-prisoners "All In" as its battle cry one year ago now sounds like it's taking tips from Dr. Phil.

The new slogan, "Appreciate the Game," has some Sox fans scratching their heads.

"We appreciate if you show up and buy tickets? We need to pay our bills? This Ferrari isn't getting any cheaper?" Frank Castro said.

Although the slogan may be confusing, Sox fever ran high in Chicago's Bridgeport community on Thursday. Friday's home opener vs. the first-place Detroit Tigers starts at 1:10 p.m. and the natives are restless after a mediocre 2011 season.

Castro hopes fans appreciate not only the game but the free rides to and from U.S. Cellular Field that Rocky's Sports Restaurant, 234 W. 31st St., offers every game for the restaurant's patrons.

Castro manages Rocky's, which will host WMVP-AM (1000) from 2 to 6 p.m.

To attract more fans, Rocky's has an ad on a bench strategically located across 35th Street from the ballpark.

"It does help get people in here," Castro said.

They have "mixed reviews" of the 3-2 Sox, he said.

"I've heard from a lot of hopefuls. The team is showing a lot of promise," he said, "but I'm a hopeful myself."

Everybody is hopeful on Opening Day, said Pete Powers, who owns Grandstand, a sports souvenir store at 600 W. 35th St.

"This team is a lot better than people are giving it credit for. There is a sense of calm, especially with all that's going on with Ozzie in Miami. People are saying, 'Thank God it's not our problem,' " Powers said, referring to former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, whose praise of late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro earned him a five-game suspension from the Miami Marlins.

Baseball experts don't expect much from Guillen's former team. Sports Illustrated picks the Sox dead-last in their division. That's OK with Powers.

"This can be a contending ballclub, no question about it. One thing I noticed, in the first five games, is we seem to have runners on base all the time. That jumped out at me. A.J. (Pierzynski) already has two homers. He hit his second on May 22 last year. I think the guys are more relaxed. Last year, it was 'All In,' and there was a lot of expectations on these guys," said Powers, 52.

Perhaps Powers is on to something. As he spoke, Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" played on the store's sound system.

Shon Canty, of Chicago's South Side, stopped in to beat Friday's crowds and shop for Sox gear for his family.

"Which one should I try, the white one or the black one? Pinstripes do make me look thinner," said Canty, who bears a striking resemblance to retired Sox slugger Frank Thomas.

Canty bought a white jersey with black pinstripes, not the retro white and red jerseys the team will wear for Sunday home games.

No matter what he wears, Adam Dunn will have a better year, said Abel Tamez, 28, of Bridgeport.

"After the year he had last season, he can't do any worse," Tamez said.

Dunn, a big-money bopper, batted an anemic .159 with 11 homers last season.

As rare as a Dunn homer was something spotted at Morrie O'Malley's Hot Dogs, 3501 S. Union Ave.: a Cubs fan in Sox territory. Sitting on a stool, wearing a Cubs hat and jacket, was Bill Reidy.

Reidy lives in Bridgeport and grew up Sox fan. But Sox board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf angered Reidy in the 1980s by threatening to move the team to Florida unless a new ballpark was built. Reinsdorf got his wish, and Reidy got the Cubs.

"I was happy for the Sox in 2005," he said of that year's world champs.

Asked when his Cubs will do the same, he said, "Maybe they'll win when Jesus comes."

Are you going? Let us know how it is at The Cell. I was out there yesterday and have a story in today's paper about the expectations of fans.

Sure wish I had the foresight to buy tickets for today's game. Don't know what I was thinking. A Friday game. It could have been a nice three-day weekend. Oh, well, I'm sure we'll have the game on in the newsroom. For, ahem, news purposes, of course.

White Sox beat Cleveland, 10-6, in an early game today. A.J. led the way. He was 3-for-4 with a 3-run homer and 4 RBI.

Bring on the Tigers! Anybody out there going to the home opener on Friday? Wish I had tickets. How 'bout sharing some Opening Day memories here?

I know the coldest and worst Opening Day was 1991. We froze out there in the first game at the new ballpark, and the Tigers beat the Sox, 16-0. It was brutal, folks. We lasted until the 7th inning when my Dad was turning blue. Hey, I told him to wear the heavy winter coat. Does he listen?

Then again, back in 1978, it was a beautiful spring day and the White Sox beat Boston. I was a senior in high school and my folks gave me their blessing to cut classes at Morton West so I could attend the opener. It was pretty magical, coming off the 1977 South Side Hit Men season, to see the boys standing on the third-base line during the pre-game festivities. We didn't even mind being doused with beer when a fight erupted between fans in the left field lower deck and the area we sat in, box seats down the left-field line in the old Comiskey Park. It was warm. We were at a ballgame. And it was Opening Day.

(Just checked baseball-almanac.com and found that the Sox did win that game by a score of 6-5. They won the 2nd game, too. After that, not so hot. The South Siders finished 71-90 in 1978. I knew it was bad, but not that bad)

He just gave up a two-run homer in the 7th inning, and the Indians have trimmed the Sox' lead to 10-6. Hey, Will, that's enough of that. Don't give Cleveland the idea it can win this game.

it's weird, having been in Cleveland two weeks ago on spring break. We passed the ballpark several times, so I know exactly where the boys are playing. If they get hungry after, there's a Hard Rock Cafe a few blocks north. We hoped to get a stadium tour, but that was not available when we were there.

Anyhow, Sox are batting in the 8th. It would be nice to tack a a few insurance runs here.

Okay, Ozzie Guillen said he won't talk politics again, and will stick to basebal. Uh-huh.

What do you think will be the next topic Ozzie comments on, guaranteed to rile up somebody? You know it's going to happen again. It always does. Show of hands, who's happy the South Side's problem is now South Florida's problem?

Let's see. He offended the Cuban-Americans this week. He offended the gay community when he was in Chicago. What's next?

Here is the coverage in USA TODAY of this morning's news conference in Miami involving a certain manager who used to be on the South Side of Chicago:

By Paul White, USA TODAY

Ozzie Guillen was suspended five games by the Miami Marlins in advance of a news conference this morning where he explained his explosive comments about Fidel Castro, words that have set off protests in the middle of the community where the Miami Marlins have built their new stadium and among fans the team hope to woo.

"I'm sorry that I hurt the community without any intention," Guillen said in Spanish. "I'm here to say I'm sorry."

Guillen, the first-year manager of the Marlins, made a special trip back to Miami from Philadelphia on an off-day for the team so he could explain comments in a Time magazine article praising Castro.

"He has done a lot of bad things," Guillen said of Castro. ""That's why I am surprised he has stayed in power so long."

Guillen said he felt the meaning of his comments were misconstrued in the translation between Spanish and English. He took and answered questions in both languages for nearly an hour today.

"I don't want to make excuses," he said. "But I meant that I was surprised Fidel Castro stayed in power so long. That's what was missing in the translation. ... I'm not saying the journalist was wrong. I was wrong. I was thinking in Spanish and I said it wrong in English."

The news conference was held at the new ballpark built in the Little Havana section of Miami and was broadcast on video screens in the plaza outside the stadium.

"I'm embarrassed," Guillen said, apologizing repeatedly in both Spanish and English. "I live in Miami. I will do everything in my power to try to help the Cuban community, the Latino community. I want to walk the streets feeling good."

Added the often outspoken and controversial Guillen, "You learn from your mistakes. This was the biggest mistake so far in my life. I'm very guilty ... very embarrassed ... very said ... very stupid."

Guillen said he will not be paid during his suspension and that he has no complaints about the punishment.

"I'm in no position to complain right now," he said. "Fixing my problems with the community is more important than the suspension or the money."

The Venezuelan Guillen said in the Time article that he "loves" Castro and respects him for being able to say in power for more than 50 years.

"I don't admire Castro," said Guillen, who said he has had sleepless nights since the article came out. He also said today that he does not support Venezuelan leader Hugo Sanchez, a protege of Castro.

"I prefer to die than to vote for Hugh Chavez," Guillen said.

Some local officials in Miami have called for punishment for Guillen, even removing him from his job.

"Just because I made a mistake -- a big one -- don't take it out on the Marlins," said Guillen, who added that he has told the Marlins organization he would be willing to talk with team sponsors and local businesses as well as the Cuban-American community.

Guillen made similar comments in a 2008 article for Men's Journal magazine, comments extensive enough to shed some light on Guillen's feelings on the issue.

When asked, "Who's the toughest man you know," Guillen named Castro.

He said, "He's a bull ... dictator and everybody's against him and he still survives, has power. ... I don't admire his philosophy, I admire him."

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Five games sounds just about right for the latest talk-before-thinking comments of Ozzie. Losing his job would have been a bit extreme, although I can understand why some felt he should be fired. The guy made a mistake. We all do. And he's paying the price. Rick Telander, in todays' Bright One, wrote that Ozzie professed his love of Castro back in 2008, but nobody paid much attention in Chicago, which is much different than Miami when it comes to Fidel.

The Sox dropped 2 of 3 games at Texas, which, I suppose, can't be too big a surprise seeing how the Rangers are the two-time defending American League champions. We saw some bright spots - Jake Peavy's pitching, homers by Alex Rios and Adam Dunn - and we saw some low lights - three homers off Gavin Floyd and 13 strikeouts by Sox batters in one game.

I, for one, am very glad I picked up Hector Santiago for one of my fantasy baseball teams. Sure, the kid has only pitched one inning, but he got the save against one of the best hitting teams in all of baseball. You gotta like that.

What's your take on the opening series? What do you think about this week's visit to Cleveland? Will it be clear sailing tonight? (Sorry, couldn't resist that one)

By now, I'm sure you've heard that there's a TIME magazine story coming out in which the former White Sox skipper says he loves and respects Fidel Castro.

You've gotta be kidding. He loves and respects a dictator who destroyed millions of lives and ruined an entire nation?

He loves a guy who forced so many to flee their homeland?

Many of those Cubans setted in or near Miami, many of them are the same people the Marlins brass had in mind when they hired Ozzie Guillen to manage the baseball team. They liked Guillen because he is Hispanic and could bring more Spanish-speaking fans to the ballpark.

This is perhaps the lowest of lows for Guillen. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Maybe former Daily Southtown sports writer Joe Cowley, who does a good job covering Ozzie, will write something in The Bright One on Tuesday morning.

On the plus side, Adam Dunn hit a cannon shot in Friday's game. On the downside, after tying the score at 2-2, the Sox wound up dropping the game, 3-2, to Texas. Can't blame it on a meltdown or weird play. Just one of those games, I reckon.

Ugh. Joe Cowley's column today in The Bright One is about Ozzie Guillen saying he won't return to the White Sox if Kenny Williams is still here. Excuse me while I have a big helping of Who The Heck Cares?

If I was a Miami fan, I'd be ticked that, before the season's first game, Ozzie is still yapping about the White Sox. Rather he should say, "The White Sox are in my past. I'm a Marlin now and I want to bring a title back to Miami." Don't keep crying about Kenny this and Kenny that.

It sounds like Kenny texting Ozzie yesterday ignited this whole story. Whatever. I think most Sox fans are tired of the Kenny and Ozzie Soap Opera. Ozzie, it was great. Thanks for the memories. We'll always treasure 2005 and you had a lot to do with that. But I'm done caring about these Ozzie exclusives. Move on, folks, move on.

Fresh from the kitchen table at Casa Metsch, where I made these picks over a steaming cup of Maxwell House instant coffee this morning, I give you the 2012 predictions. (No wagering, please)
AMERICAN LEAGUE

EAST
1. Yankees - how can you not pick them?
2. Tampa - Consistently good team
3. Toronto - Up and coming
4. Boston - Bullpen stud already hurt; time for a bad season
5. Baltimore - We are talking Orioles
CENTRAL
1. Detroit - They are loaded. Big time.
2. Cleveland - Coming off a good 2011
3. White Sox - Robin Ventura will have them around .500
4. Kansas City - Good young players destined for New York, L.A., etc.
5. Twins - White Sox Nation rejoices
WEST
1. Texas - One strike away from glory last year, they are inspired
2. Anaheim - Big buyers this winter, it pays off
3. Seattle - Hard team to decipher
4. Oakland - See Seattle
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. Miami - Chicago South has a fun summer
2. Philly - Still a force, but aging
3. Atlanta - Could sneak in as division champ
4. Washington - Getting better all the time
5. NY Mets - Gonna be a long season
CENTRAL
1. St. Louis - Gotta stick with the champs
2. Cincy - Big spenders are in the hunt
3. Cubs - Like South Siders, .500 in sight
4. Milwaukee - Will miss Prince; Braun misses pharmacist
5. Pittsburgh - Young talent but long way to go
6. Houston - Worst team in baseball?

WEST
1. San Francisco - With that pitching, wow
2. Dodgers - L.A. is better and will give SF a battle.
3. Arizona - Should be fun to watch
4. Colorado - See Arizona
5. San Diego - Padres need divine intervention
WILDCARDS
TAMPA and ANAHEIM in the A.L.
DODGERS and PHILLY in the N.L.

PENNANTS
ANAHEIM spent like drunken sailors, or like the New York Yankees, and will find a way to beat the Bronx Bombers.
Ozzie Guillen's going to have a fun October as MIAMI beats San Francisco

WORLD SERIES
Anaheim vs. Miami. This is gonna be a fun Series. Proven vets on each team. Buehrle and Zambrano pitching for the Marlins, Ozzie back on center stage. The Angels paid big bucks to Albert Pujols for one reason, and this is it: ANGELS in 7 games.

Okay, Sox fans, are you getting excited yet? A bee-you-tee-full sunny day Monday must be getting you to think about baseball.

What's your predictions for the coming season? How will Robin Ventura do as manager? WIll Adam Dunn finally do what we know he can? How much will Mark Buehrle be missed? Will the team be in contention all season long? Can the Sox win the division, or is a wild card berth more reasonable?